Harry the Homeless Puppy

by Holly Webb

  At least it wasn’t dark now. The kitchen was very frightening at night, and he howled for someone to come and keep him company. At Beth’s house he had been allowed to sleep on her bed, never shut up on his own all night.

  Mrs Jameson had come downstairs and comforted him the first night, but she wasn’t the person he really wanted. Mr Jameson patted him occasionally, but he kept sniffing, and he sneezed whenever Harry came close to him. His sneezes were very loud, and quite scary. Harry was spending an awful lot of time shut up on his own in the kitchen, because he and Mr Jameson didn’t seem to be able to be in the same room together.

  Harry sighed. Maybe someone would come and play with him soon. Maybe even Grace. He really hoped so. But Beth had gone, and not come back. Had Grace left him now, too?

  Chapter Five

  Danny went to the shelter on his own on Thursday. He tried to get Grace to come with him, but she wouldn’t. When he got back, he went to her room and tried to cheer her up with funny stories about Finn, his current favourite at the shelter. Finn was half Labrador, half no-one-knew-what, except that it was very big and very hungry. Danny had had to own up to Sally that Finn had found half a packet of mints in his pocket, and wolfed them down before Danny could stop him. But luckily, Sally had come to look at Finn, and said she thought it would probably take about six packets of mints to do anything to him; he had an iron stomach.

  The story only earned Danny a very small smile. But on Friday after school, he set to work again. “You know, it’s not fair on Sally and all the other dogs if you don’t go,” he pointed out.

  “What do you mean?” Grace asked worriedly. She liked Sally a lot; she really didn’t want to upset her.

  “Well, she’s used to having you there to help. If we don’t go, the dogs won’t get as many walks. I’m taking Finn out again today, but what about Bella and Jake and Harrison? I can’t walk all of them, Grace, and not many other people come in to help during the week.”

  Grace nodded. He was right. It was just hard to imagine going back to the shelter and Harry not being there.

  “And don’t forget how good everyone at the shelter said you were with the dogs. It’d be a real shame if you stopped going.” Danny looked at her hopefully. “Shall I phone Mum, and tell her I’m not dropping you at home, you’re coming with me?” He whipped his mobile out of his pocket.

  Grace sighed. “I suppose so.”

  “Excellent!” Danny cheered.

  Sally said that Jake could really do with a walk, and that Grace and Danny could take him and Finn to the park together.

  Grace tried not to be too miserable – it wasn’t fair on Jake for a start; he was a lovely dog, a Westie with a beautiful white coat. It was hard though. She couldn’t help remembering the brilliant walk she’d had with Harry.

  Finn dragged Danny off to bark at squirrels in the trees on one side of the park, and Grace wandered slowly round the play area with Jake. He was an elderly dog, whose previous owner had died, and he liked gentle walks.

  “Grace! Hello!” Someone was calling from the swings, and Grace looked over and saw Maya. Grace smiled and waved at her, but then her smile faded. How was she going to explain Jake?

  “Did you miss me at ballet last week?” Maya called, slipping off the swing and running over. “I had a tummy bug, and Mum said if I was missing school, I couldn’t go to ballet.” Maya looked down at Jake, and then up again, confused. “That’s not the same dog you had last time, is it? The other one had a pointier nose, and – and stuff.”

  “Um, yes…” Grace muttered.

  “Wow, have you got two dogs now?” Maya asked excitedly.

  Grace stared down at Jake and shook her head. She was too embarrassed to look at Maya. “I haven’t got a dog, they aren’t mine. Neither of them.” Then she pulled on Jake’s lead and suddenly dragged him off across the park.

  Maya stood staring after them, looking surprised and rather upset.

  Grace found Danny trying to persuade Finn to leave the squirrels alone, and told him what had happened. She was almost crying.

  “So you just ran off?” Danny asked disbelievingly.

  “Yes…” Grace admitted.

  “You muppet. Why didn’t you explain? I bet she would’ve understood.”

  “No, she wouldn’t. I’d have to admit I lied to her when I met her that time with Harry. I let her think he was mine, Danny. I never actually said it, but I didn’t tell her no when she said he was.”

  Danny blinked as he worked that one out. “I still think she’d understand if you explained it properly. You’ll have to anyway. She’s bound to ask you at ballet. Or else she’ll be really off with you, and you’ll be all miserable every Tuesday.”

  “I could stop going to ballet…” Grace suggested desperately.

  “Like Mum’s going to let you do that, silly! How can you be so good at getting dogs to understand you, but too shy to talk to people properly?” Danny shook his head. “Nope, you’ll just have to explain. Is she still here?”

  They looked over at the play area. Maya was there, talking to her sister.

  “Come on!” And Danny grabbed Grace’s arms and marched her and Finn and Jake across the park.

  Grace slowly approached Maya, looking embarrassed.

  “Go on!” Danny nudged her.

  “I’m so sorry,” Grace muttered. “I didn’t mean to pretend Harry was mine, but when you thought he was, it was so nice. I really, really wanted him to belong to me, you see.”

  Maya gave her a confused look, confused and slightly suspicious. “So neither of them are yours? Who do they belong to then?”

  Grace sighed sadly. “The animal shelter. Me and Danny go and help there after school. We take the dogs for walks.”

  “Ohhh.” Maya nodded.

  “I didn’t mean to run off, it’s just that I suddenly realized you’d know I’d lied to you and I didn’t know how to explain everything.” Grace looked at Maya, hopefully. Danny had been so sure that if she explained, Maya would be OK with it. Was he right?

  “If you liked Harry so much, why didn’t you take him home?” Maya asked.

  “Mum says we can’t fit a dog in our flat.” Grace sighed. “But Harry was so sad when he first came to the shelter. I spent ages trying to cheer him up, and it was almost like he was mine. When you thought he actually belonged to me, it was like my wish come true.”

  “At least you can see him at the shelter,” Maya said. “It sounds like fun.”

  Grace sighed. “I can’t any more. Someone else adopted him at the weekend; that’s why I’ve got Jake today instead. Harry’s gone.”

  “Oh, Grace! That’s so sad.” They were silent for a minute, then Maya looked at her and Danny shyly. “So you still go to the shelter? Could I maybe come with you one day? I love dogs too; I’d really like to see them all.”

  “Oh, yes! Why don’t you meet us there tomorrow?” Grace smiled. “Mum said we could definitely go on Saturday morning, didn’t she, Danny? And they’re always wanting more help.”

  Grace never even noticed that someone else was there in the park. Mrs Jameson was working from home, and had taken Harry out for a quick walk. He was enjoying the smells – the park was full of interesting litter bins, and squirrels, and the scents of other dogs – but he wished he was with Grace. He plodded slowly round the path, watching the other dogs, and the children playing. He wondered where Grace was now.

  And then he saw her. Grace was over on the other side of the park – with another dog. Harry stopped dead, and ignored Mrs Jameson gently pulling at his lead. Had she forgotten him already? Harry barked and barked, pulling on his lead as hard as he could, but she was too far away to hear him.

  Did Grace have another dog now? He missed her so much, as much as he’d missed Beth when she went away. Why did everyone go away? Harry sat down in the middle of the path and howled broken-heartedly.

  Mrs Jameson was worried that he might be hurt somehow. She picked him up and hurried him home, where he
curled up in his basket and wouldn’t be played with all evening. He even refused to eat. He felt so lonely and he wanted Grace to come back for him so much. Why did she have another dog now? Didn’t she love him any more?

  Mrs Jameson just didn’t know what was wrong with Harry and when her husband got home from work she told him how upset Harry seemed. “I want him to be happy here, but he doesn’t seem to be settling in at all,” she admitted.

  Mr Jameson sighed. “I’m not sure this is working out either…”

  Mrs Jameson nodded sadly. “I know. We can’t just keep shutting Harry in the kitchen, and your allergy’s getting worse every day.”

  Mr Jameson gave her a hug. “I’m sorry, I know you really wanted a dog…”

  His wife smiled. “But it isn’t fair on either of you. I’ll ring the shelter and arrange to take him back there tomorrow.” She sniffed. “Poor little Harry…”

  Chapter Six

  Maya and her sister were waiting outside for Grace when she and Danny and Mum arrived on Saturday afternoon. Maya was going to stay for a couple of hours and then her sister was coming back to pick her up. Grace was delighted to have someone to show round, and Maya loved meeting all the dogs. They were just saying hello to Jake, the Westie, when Grace heard a familiar yap from the next pen. She turned slowly to look. Could it be…

  “Harry!” Grace cried, and he bounded up to the door of the pen, leaping and barking delightedly.

  “Oh, it’s really you, what are you doing back here, you lovely boy?” Grace murmured, stroking him through the wire.

  “He seems very pleased to see you,” said Sally, coming up behind Grace. Sally was smiling, but she didn’t sound too happy, and Grace suddenly realized that if Harry was back, it meant his new owner must have been a mistake. “Did the people not want him after all?” she asked, gazing fondly at Harry.

  Sally sighed. “Harry didn’t settle very well, unfortunately. I’m sure he would have been fine, given time, but the husband turned out to be allergic to dogs, too. Poor Harry, back here again, aren’t you, sweetheart?”

  Grace looked at Harry lovingly. She slipped into his run, and sat down, letting him climb all over her, and lick as much of her as he could. She was so glad to see him again. But then a horrible thought struck her. Harry hadn’t settled at his new home – was that her fault? Because she’d been spending so much time with him? If he was too fond of her, he might not want to go to a new owner.

  “What’s the matter?” Maya asked. “Aren’t you pleased he’s back?”

  Grace sighed. “I am pleased. But Sally said he didn’t settle at his new home. What if that’s because he’s spending too much time with me?”

  Maya looked confused, and Grace tried to explain. “He’s going to be rehomed again – what if I spoil another new home for him, too? Maybe I just shouldn’t see him any more.”

  Harry lay blissfully in Grace’s lap, his paws folded on his stomach, eyes closed. The only thing that could make this better would be some food. He was fairly sure dinner would be here soon…

  “Harry… Harry…” Grace was whispering to him. “I’ve got to go, sweetie. It’s time for you to be fed.” She lifted him gently off her lap.

  Harry slid sleepily off, and looked up at her, puzzled. She was going? Again? But she’d only just come back! Grace was opening the door of his pen, and he flung himself at her, howling. No! He didn’t want her to go, she might not come again!

  Grace shut the door of the run, her fingers trembling. Harry was howling so loudly, everyone in the shelter was looking round, wondering what was happening.

  Sally walked quickly towards them. “Don’t worry, Grace, I’ve got some food for him; hopefully that’ll help calm him down. You go. See you soon, OK? Don’t worry about Harry, he’s just had a hard couple of days.”

  Grace nodded, blinking back tears. It was really hard to leave him when he was so upset. Maya and Danny were hurrying up the corridor towards her, looking worried.

  “Maya told me Harry was back. Was that him howling?” Danny asked.

  Grace nodded and sniffed. Danny gave her a hug and they headed for the door. Mum was waving to them from reception, telling them to hurry up.

  Maya had just opened the door when there was a sudden crash, and they turned back to see that Sally had dropped Harry’s food bowl. It looked like he’d jumped at the door of the pen as she’d opened it, and knocked into her. Now he was racing down between the pens, barking madly, with Sally chasing after him.

  Harry settled at Grace’s feet, his tail wagging desperately. Other people were allowed to take him home. Why couldn’t she? She was the one he wanted to go home with!

  Hopefully, he held out one paw, the way she’d been teaching him. Grace’s eyes were full of tears as she crouched down to take it. Harry gave a triumphant little bark. He’d done it right. There. Surely she couldn’t send him back to his run now.

  Grace picked him up, and rubbed her cheek against his smooth fur. Then she handed him back to Sally, and ran. She couldn’t bear to see him like this.

  Danny, Maya and Mum found her outside the shelter, leaning against the wall and crying.

  “Oh, Grace…” Mum said worriedly. “I’m sure he’ll be all right in a minute.” Grace gave her a disbelieving look, and Mum sighed. “Well, maybe not straight away, but I’m sure he will get over it.”

  “But it isn’t fair!” Grace sobbed. “He’s always having to get over things. His first owner had to leave him, and now this one’s given up on him, and he just wants to be with me and I can’t have him!”

  Mum put an arm round her shoulders comfortingly, and Danny asked, “Mum, isn’t there any way we could have him? You know how hard Grace has worked.”

  “I do know, and I’m really proud of you, Grace. But Harry needs lots of space to run around. And he’d hate being shut up while we’re all out during the day. I’m sorry, Grace, I wish things were different, but you know we can’t have a dog at the moment.”

  Chapter Seven

  “He’s as bad as he was when he first came,” Mandy said sadly, looking at the little brown-and-white ball in the basket. It was all they’d been able to see of Harry for days.

  Sally called gently, “Harry! Here, boy!” but he didn’t even twitch. “It’s so sad. He really adored Grace, but I can understand why she doesn’t think she should visit him any more, and it’s probably for the best.”

  “Still, there’s a family coming to see him this afternoon,” said Mandy. “They saw him on the website, and they think he looks perfect. If they like him, and they can give him the time to settle down…”

  They stared at Harry, still curled up silently, and Sally sighed. “Well, you never know…”

  Grace didn’t go to the shelter at all that week. She just couldn’t bear it. She had made Harry’s life even harder by falling in love with him. He had to find a new home, and she was stopping him. She just had to let him go, the sooner the better.

  She supposed she could have gone back to the shelter and kept away from Harry, but that would be so difficult. Danny didn’t even try to persuade her this time. Mum had phoned the shelter to talk to Sally and explain. Grace had listened to what Mum was saying, and she could tell that Sally was sad, but that she agreed with Mum. It was the best thing for Harry.

  Life felt very flat without the shelter to go to, though, Grace thought, lying on her bed listening to her favourite CD. School, more school, hanging around at home. She’d gone to Maya’s for tea yesterday, which was nice, but she still missed Harry, and all the other dogs, so much.

  “Grace!” Mum called from the kitchen. “Time to go!”

  Grace sighed, and rolled off her bed. Another flat to go and see.

  Grace smiled politely as the lady who owned the flat chatted to her about whether she liked the bedroom that would be hers. She just wished Mum and Dad would stop fussing about the bathroom and get on, she was so sick of flat-hunting. They’d already seen this flat anyway, yesterday, when Grace and Danny
were at school. Why did they need to look at everything again?

  They finished at last, and Sheila, the owner, led them back towards the kitchen. “I’ll just show you the garden,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ve had a bit of a tidy-up since you saw it yesterday, but I’m afraid I’m not much of a gardener.”

  Grace gasped. “A garden! There’s a garden?”

  Sheila turned back and smiled. “Yes, didn’t your parents say? The garden goes with this ground-floor flat, you see.”

  Grace looked at Mum and Dad, her eyes wide with hope. “So could we…?”

  Mum nodded and laughed. “Yes! I mean, it’ll take a little while before we can move in, of course. But your dad and I have talked this over and, yes, we can have Harry.”

  Grace flung herself at her mum and hugged her. “You planned all this, I can’t believe it!”

  Her mum laughed and led her over to the window. “When we saw it, we realized how perfect it would be for you and Danny. You’ve both worked so hard at the shelter. Now you get to have your own dog.”

  They looked out at the garden. It was messy, full of weeds, but Grace could just imagine Harry bounding up and down, barking joyfully as she threw a ball for him to chase.

  Danny stared out too, his face split by an enormous grin, but then he frowned. “What about us all being out in the daytime? You said we couldn’t leave Harry alone all day.”

  Dad nodded. “It’s OK. I’ve spoken to the people at work, and they’re happy for me to take Harry into the office with me some of the time. And when I have a heavy day of meetings, your mum should be able to pop home and give him a walk in her lunch hour.”